U.S. patent number 4,781,644 [Application Number 06/898,586] was granted by the patent office on 1988-11-01 for assembly kit for toy or the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Abero Laboratory Inc.. Invention is credited to Takaharu Yoshida.
United States Patent |
4,781,644 |
Yoshida |
November 1, 1988 |
Assembly kit for toy or the like
Abstract
An assembly kit for use as a toy or the like including plurality
of rod elements, each having a pair of half portions and fasteners
for fixing together the half portions, the half portions having
ends in the axial direction and first and second recessed portions
on the ends respectively. The first recessed portions are formed in
a semi-arcuate configuration, and the second recessed portions are
smaller in diameter than the first recessed portions and extend
axially outward from the first recessed portions. A plurality of
bolts are provided having head portions and shank portions
connected to the head portions, the head portions being formed in a
disk shape to respectively fit into the first recessed portions and
the shank portions being respectively provided with external
threads at a front end of the shank portion to fit in the second
recessed portion. A plurality of connecting elements forming
spheres in general are provided with a plurality of internal
threads with which the bolts are engaged.
Inventors: |
Yoshida; Takaharu (Hyogo,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Abero Laboratory Inc. (Osaka,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
16861928 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/898,586 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1986 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 12, 1985 [JP] |
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60-227504 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/123;
52/655.2; 211/186; 403/171; 211/182; 211/189; 446/126 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
1/19 (20130101); A63H 33/10 (20130101); F16B
12/40 (20130101); F16B 35/047 (20130101); E04B
1/1906 (20130101); E04B 2001/1963 (20130101); E04B
2001/1984 (20130101); E04B 2001/1927 (20130101); Y10T
403/342 (20150115); E04B 2001/196 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/10 (20060101); A63H 33/04 (20060101); E04B
1/19 (20060101); F16B 12/40 (20060101); F16B
12/00 (20060101); F16B 35/04 (20060101); A63H
033/12 (); F16B 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;446/126,107,108,122,123,124,85
;403/171,176,172,170,178,173,174,175,177 ;211/189,182,186,191,192
;D21/108 ;52/648,731 ;297/440 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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55-14396 |
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Jan 1980 |
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JP |
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715735 |
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Dec 1980 |
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SU |
|
Primary Examiner: Yu; Mickey
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An assembly kit for toy use or the like comprising:
a plurality of rod elements, each of which comprises a pair of
identically shaped half portions extending in an axial direction
and fasteners for fixing together the pair of half portions with an
axially extending planar surface of one of the half portions
abutting an axially extending planar surface of the other one of
the half portions, each of the half portions having opposite ends
in the axial direction and a first recessed portion and a second
recessed portion inwardly of each of the ends, the first recessed
portion being larger than the second recessed portion with the
second recessed portion being located between the first recessed
portion and a respective one of the ends of the half portion;
a plurality of bolts, each of the bolts having a head portion and a
shank portion extending from one side of the head portion, the head
portion being sized to fit into the first recessed portion and the
shank portion having external threads at a free end thereof, the
shank portion being sized to fit in the second recessed portion,
the bolts being removable from each of the rod elements by removing
the fasteners holding the pair of half portions together to thereby
allow separation of the half portions in a direction perpendicular
to the axial direction; and
a plurality of connecting elements, each of which includes a
plurality of holes having internal threads in which the threaded
shanks of the bolts are engaged.
2. An assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each half portion
includes a first barrel portion and a second barrel portion, each
of which extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial
direction, the first barrel portion having a hole therein which
extends in the radial direction completely through the half portion
and the second barrel portion having a threaded hole therein
extending in the radial direction part way through the half
portion, the threaded hole extending inwardly from the axially
extending planar surface of the half portion, whereby the pair of
half portions are joined by two of the fasteners, each of which
extends through the hole in the first barrel portion of one of the
pair of half portions and is threadedly engaged with the threaded
hole in the second barrel portion of the other one of the pair of
half portions.
3. An assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a total of six
holes having internal threads are formed in each of the connecting
elements, each of the holes having an axis coincident with an axis
of another one of the holes such that the holes are arranged as
three pairs of holes with the axes of the three pairs of holes
being perpendicular to each other.
4. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second
barrel portion includes an annular ledge extending therefrom in a
direction outwardly from the planar surface of the half portion,
the first barrel portion including a notch extending inwardly from
the planar surface, the notch being sized to receive the annular
ledge of another one of the half portions when the pair of half
portions are joined to form one of the rod elements.
5. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the half
portions includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the planar
surface thereof and a recess extending inwardly from the planar
surface thereof, the recess being sized to receive the protrusion
of another one of the half portions when the pair of half portions
are joined to form one of the rod elements.
6. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second
barrel portion includes an annular ledge extending therefrom in a
direction outwardly from the planar surface of the half portion,
the first barrel portion including a notch extending inwardly from
the planar surface, the notch being sized to receive the annular
ledge of another one of the half portions when the pair of half
portions are joined to form one of the rod elements and each of the
half portions includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the
planar surface thereof and a recess extending inwardly from the
planar surface thereof, the recess being sized to receive the
protrusion of another one of the half portions when the pair of
half portions are joined to form one of the rod elements.
7. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
fasteners comprises a bolt having a head and a shank extending from
one side of the head, the head including a depression in an
opposite side thereof, the depression being sized for engagement
with a coin whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting a coin in
the depression and rotating the coin.
8. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
fasteners comprises a bolt having a head and a shank extending from
one side of the head, the head including an axially extending tool
fitting hole in an opposite side thereof, the tool fitting hole
having a configuration for receiving a bolt turning tool therein
whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting the bolt turning tool
therein and rotating the bolt turning tool.
9. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tool fitting
hole has a square configuration.
10. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tool
fitting hole extends completely through the head and shank of the
bolt.
11. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the
fasteners comprises a bolt having a head and a shank extending from
one side of the head, the head including a depression in an
opposite side thereof, the depression being sized for engagement
with a coin whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting a coin in
the depression and rotating the coin.
12. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the
fasteners comprises a bolt having a head and a shank extending from
one side of the head, the head including an axially extending tool
fitting hole in an opposite side thereof, the tool fitting hole
having a configuration for receiving a bolt turning tool therein
whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting the bolt turning tool
therein and rotating the bolt turning tool.
13. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tool
fitting hole has a square configuration.
14. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tool
fitting hole extends completely through the head and shank of the
bolt.
15. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head
portion of each of the bolts includes a depression in an opposite
side thereof, the depression being sized for engagement with a coin
whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting a coin in the
depression and rotating the coin.
16. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head
portion of each of the bolts includes an axially extending tool
fitting hole in an opposite side thereof, the tool fitting hole
having a configuration for receiving a bolt turning tool therein
whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting the bolt turning tool
therein and rotating the bolt turning tool.
17. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tool
fitting hole has a square configuration.
18. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tool
fitting hole extends completely through the head portion and shank
of the bolt.
19. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head
portion of each of the bolts includes a depression in an opposite
side thereof, the depression being sized for engagement with a coin
whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting a coin in the
depression and rotating the coin.
20. The assembly kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head
portion of each of the bolts includes an axially extending tool
fitting hole in an opposite side thereof, the tool fitting hole
having a configuration for receiving a bolt turning tool therein
whereby the bolt can be turned by inserting the bolt turning tool
therein and rotating the bolt turning tool, the tool fitting hole
extending completely through the head portion and shank of the
bolt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an assembly kit for constructing a
framework or the like and, more particularly, to an assembly kit
suitable for use as a toy.
2. Related Art Statement
A typical related art disclosure of the sort is found in Japanese
publication of unexamined patent application No. 55-14396. Such
assembly kit includes a plurality of hollow tubes having a linear
axis, and joints having juncture portions into which the tubes are
fitted at their ends for connection aand which are spatially
provided in L-shape, T-shape, and tridimensional patterns.
With such a related art assembly kit, one difficulty is that there
must be joints having types of different structural configurations
in order to meet the needs for changes in assembly configuration,
which naturally means a larger number of parts required. Assembly
kits of this type are often used as toys for younger children in
common households, in which case comparatively frequent changes are
required in assembly configuration. Indeed, the procurement of
different types of joints for such a purpose requires considerable
costs to be borne by the toy users.
Another difficulty with the related art is that when assembling a
cube, for example, by using tubes and joints, or disassembling the
cube, fitting the ends of one tube into juncture portions of some
joints or pulling the tube ends out from the juncture portions may
exert some unreasonable force on the other tubes and joints, thus
causing some strain to them. Furthermore, such assembling and
disassembling requires the use of considerable force and involves
some handling difficulty to those who are not experienced in such
work.
A further difficulty with the related art assembly kit is that the
tube and joint elements of the kit are comparatively complicated in
configuration because they are to be fixedly connected together,
with the tubes fitted at their ends into corresponding juncture
portions of the joints, a feature which results in complicated
assembling and disassembling work and poor productivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the aforesaid difficulties, therefore, it is
an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved assembly
kit for toy use.
It is another object of the invention to provide an assembly kit
for toy use which has a reduced number of parts and which is easy
to assemble and disassemble, with not much labor required in such
work.
In accomplishing the above objects, an assembly kit for toy use or
the like according to an aspect of the invention comprises a
plurality of rod elements, each formed by a pair of half portions
and fasteners for fixing together the half portions, the half
portions having ends in the axial direction and first and second
recessed portions on the ends respectively, the first recessed
portions being formed in semi-arcuate configuration, and the second
recessed portions being smaller in radius than the first recessed
portions and extending axially outward from the first recessed
portions, a plurality of bolts having head portions and shank
portions connected to the head portions, the head portions being
formed in a disk shape to respectively fit into the first recessed
portions and the shank portions being respectively provided with
external threads at a front end of the shank portion to fit in the
second recessed portion, and a plurality of connecting elements
forming spheres in general being provided with a plurality of holes
having internal threads with which the bolts are engaged.
In a preferred embodiment, the pair of half portions are formed
respectively with an identical configuration.
In another preferred embodiment, a total of six holes having
internal threads are formed in the connecting elements, having axes
on three straight lines which are perpendicular to one another.
According to this invention, as assembly kit comprises half-parted
rod elements, bolts, and spherical connecting elements; therefore,
it is unnecessary to provide a large variety of parts, a feature
which allows a simplified construction and improved productivity.
Especially where the assembly kit is a toy, this also means reduced
cost to general household users and it is thus expected that the
invention will be widely accepted in the market place.
Each rod element formed from one pair of identical half portions
joined by fasteners; therefore, when assembling the assembly kit
into a cube, for example, or disassembling such cube, each rod
element is separated into two half portions by loosening the
fasteners, so that connecting and disconnecting may be easily
carried out through the fasteners or bolts by which the rod element
is in screw engagement with one or more of the connecting elements.
Therefore, not much laborious force is required when constructing a
cube or the like, it being thus easy to perform assembling and
disassembling work. As such, the assembly kit in accordance with
the invention permits unskilled persons to perform such assembling
and disassembling work without difficulty.
According to the invention, a disc-shaped head of a bolt fits in a
first recessed portion of a semi-arcuate configuration formed in
each half portion of each rod element and a shank portion of the
bolt fits in a second recessed portion which is smaller in diameter
than the first recessed portion, so that the bolt head is securely
held in the rod element. Thus, connecting the rod element to
another rod element may be easily performed through a connecting
element. This, coupled with the fact that the assembly kit is
simple in construction as a whole, leads to improved
productivity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed specification
and drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing one rod
element;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bolt threadedly engaged with
a connecting element;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connecting element and the
bolt when separated from each other;
FIG. 5 is a front view of the connecting element;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the bolt;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the bolt;
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a half portion;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the half portion;
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the half portion;
FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line XI--XI in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line XII--XII in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII--XIII in FIG.
11;
FIG. 14 is a section taken along the line XIV--XIV in FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a plan view showing half portions coupled together by
the bolt;
FIG. 16 is a side view of the construction shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a side view showing the coupled configuration in FIGS.
15 and 16;
FIG. 18 is a side view showing a bolt;
FIG. 19 is a front view of the bolt;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an assembly according to the
invention;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing another form of an assembly
according to the invention;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a further form of an assembly
according to the invention;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the plate elements shown in FIG.
22;
FIG. 24 is a section showing a plate element engaged with a rod
element;
FIG. 25 is an exploded view in perspective showing another
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 26 is a plan view of a connecting element;
FIG. 27 is a plan view of a bolt;
FIG. 28 is a longitudinal section of the bolt shown in FIG. 27;
FIG. 29 is a plan view of a bolt;
FIG. 30 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bolt shown in FIG.
29;
FIG. 31 is a front view of a clamping device;
FIG. 32 is a side view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 31;
FIG. 33 is a plan view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 31;
FIG. 34 is a bottom view of a plate element;
FIG. 35 is a plan view showing the plate element when fixed to a
rod member;
FIG. 36 is a section taken along the line A--A in FIG. 35;
FIG. 37 is a bottom view of another form of a plate element
corresponding to FIG. 34 in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention; and
FIG. 38 is a section showing the plate element when fixed to a rod
member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the
invention are described below.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the
invention. A generally spherical connecting element 2 is mounted to
each axial end of a rod element 1. Another rod element 1 is
connected to the rod element 1 through the connecting elements 2. A
toy assembly or the like is constructed in this way.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing one rod element
1. The rod element 1 consists of a pair of half portions 1a of
identical construction coupled together in face to face relation.
These half portions 1a are fixed together by bolts 3 as a fastener
(see FIG. 1).
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connecting element 2 and a
bolt 4 threadedly engaged therewith. FIG. 4 is a perspective view
showing the connecting element 2 and the bolt 4 as they appear when
separated from each other. The bolt 4 has a disk-shaped head 5 and
a shank 6 fixed at its base to the head 5. The shank 6 is provided
with an external thread 7 at its front end. The connecting element
2 has a plurality of holes provided with internal threads 8 formed
therein. One of the internal threads 8 is engaged by the external
thread 7.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the connecting element 2. A total of six
internal threads are formed in the connecting element 2, and the
axes of these internal threads 8 are either parallel or
perpendicular to one another.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the bolt 4 and FIG. 7 is a plan view
thereof. On the outer periphery of the head 5 there is formed a
series of knurls 9 extending along the axis thereof, which
facilitates manual rotation. An outer peripheral edge 10 of the
external thread 7 formed on the front free end portion of the shank
6 is beveled or tapered and truncated-cone shaped, which prevents
possible injury during the handling of the kit and facilitates
screwing the external screw 7 into one of the internal threads
8.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a half portion 1a of a rod element 1,
FIG. 9 is a side view of the half portion 1a, FIG. 10 is a bottom
view thereof and FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line XI--XI
in FIG. 10. Referring to these views, the half portion 1a has an
outer periphery which is semi-cylindrical in configuration, and
both ends thereof in the longitudinal direction taper inwardly to
form curved portions 11. A first recessed portion 17 is defined at
one end of the half portion 1a between a peripheral wall 14, an
axially inwardly located wall 15a and an axially outwardly located
wall 16, of the half portion 1a. Likewise, at the other end of the
half portion 1a, another first recessed portion 17 is defined
between the peripheral wall 14, an axially inwardly located wall
15b and an axially outwardly located wall 16. The first recessed
portions 17 are coaxial with the rod element 1, and have a
semi-cylindrical configuration the radius thereof being uniform in
the axial direction. Second recessed portions 18, 19, each having a
smaller radius than the first recessed portions 17, are
respectively formed in the wall 16 and an end wall 12 at each end
of the half portion 1a. The head 5 of the bolt 4 fits snugly in the
first recessed portion 17. With the head 5 so held in position, the
shank 6 of the bolt 4 fits in and extends through the second
recessed portions 18, 19. The axes of the second recessed portions
are coincident with the axis of the rod element 1.
A radially extending barrel portion 21 having an internal thread 20
formed therein is provided axially inwardly of one wall 15a of the
half portion 1a. An upwardly protruding annular ledge 22 is formed
on the end of the barrel portion 21 extending outwardly from a
planar surface of the half portion which abuts a planar surface of
another one of the half portions which together comprise the rod
element 1. Radially extending, spaced apart walls 23, 24, 25, 26
and an axially extending wall 27 are formed in the half portion 1a.
A positioning recess 28 is formed at the top of an intersection
between the walls 25 and 27. A radially extending barrel portion 30
defining a through hole 29 is provided axially inwardly of the
other wall 15b of the half portion 1a. At the top of an
intersection between the walls 26 and 27 there is formed a
positioning protrusion 31. A notch 32 corresponding to the annular
ledge 22 is formed on the end of the barrel portion 30 defining the
through-hole 29. The protrusion 31 corresponds to the recess
28.
FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line XII--XII in FIG. 11. The
spiral ridges of the internal thread 20 formed in the barrel 21 has
a comparatively large width in the axial direction of the thread 20
(in the vertical direction in FIG. 12), a feature which contributes
toward improved strength and reduced number of turns required in
screwing the bolt 3 and facilitates assembling and
disassembling.
FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII--XIII in FIG. 11.
The walls 25, 27 extend to the peripheral wall 14, which fact
contributes toward increased strength of the half portion 1a, and
accordingly of the rod element 1.
FIG. 14 is a section taken along the line XIV--XIV in FIG. 11. A
recess 33 is formed in a connecting zone between the barrel portion
30 and the peripheral wall 14.
The head 34 of the bolt 3 shown in FIG. 1 fits into the recess 33.
The external thread 36 formed on the shank 35 of the bolt 3 engages
the internal thread 20 of the other half portion 1a.
FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a pair of half portions 1a coupled
together by bolts 3. FIG. 16 is a side view thereof. FIG. 17 is a
right end view in side elevation showing the coupled configuration
in FIGS. 15 and 16. The external thread 36 formed on the shank 35
of the bolt 3 extends through the through-hole 29 of one half
portion 1a and engages the internal thread 20 of the other half
portion 1a. With the shank 35 held in that position, the head 34 of
the bolt 3 does not protrude radially outwardly of the outer
periphery of the half portion 1a. The head 34 of the bolt 3 seats
on the bottom 33a of the recess 33. A cross-shaped arcuate
depression 34a is formed on the bolt head 34. Therefore, the bolt 3
can be tightened or unscrewed with a coin.
A slight notch 37 is formed on both longitudinal side edges of the
half portion 1a. The presence of such notch 37 prevents possible
injury during manual handling of the half portions 1a. No notch 37
is present on the curved portion 11 at either end of the half
portion 1a.
The axial peripheral surface of the end wall 12 of the half portion
1a forms an arcuate surface 38 which extends along the outer
periphery of the connecting element 2. Thus, the arcuate surface 38
may be brought into close surface contact with the outer periphery
of the connecting element 2, which fact ensures firm connection
between the rod element 1 and the connecting element 2 and prevents
a loose connection.
As shown in FIG. 10, each half portion 1a is configured generally
symmetrically relative to a symmetrical plane perpendicular to its
axis at a medium location thereof, and the internal thread 20 and
the through-hole 29 are equidistant from the symmetrical plane 39,
the recess 28 and protrusion 31 being also equidistant from the
symmetrical plane 39. In this way, each rod element 1 is comprised
of a pair of half portions 1a having an identical configuration,
which provides a simplified construction and a reduced number of
parts. Furthermore, this means that only one type of mold is
required in the fabrication of such rod element, which in turn
results in improved productivity.
FIG. 18 is a side view showing a bolt 3. FIG. 19 is a front view of
the bolt 3. The outer periphery 40 of the head 34 of the bolt 3 is
spherical. The outer peripheral edge 41 of the front end of the
external thread 36 is chamfered or of a tapered truncated cone
shape, a feature which ensures easy engagement of the external
thread 36 with the internal thread 20 and eliminates the
possibility of any personal injury being caused during the handling
of the kit, thus assuring handling safety.
When the rod element 1, in its assembled condition, is seen from
above, the head 34 of another bolt 3 is out of sight, a feature
which adds to the beauty of the kit. With the bolt 4 and the
connecting element 2 fixed together, the bolt 4 and the rod element
1 are angularly displaceable about their axes and relative to each
other. Therefore, with the rod element 1 and the connecting element
2 coupled together through the bolt 4, it is possible to assemble
and disassemble the rod element 1 with the bolts 3, a feature which
assures improved assembly work.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an assembly 43 constructed by
connecting a plurality of the rod elements 1, bolts 3, 4, and
connecting elements 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 19. After such an
assembly 43 is constructed, it is very easy to construct an
assembly 44 shown in FIG. 21, according to the invention. In this
case, it is possible to remove a rod element 45 of the assembly 43
in FIG. 20 by disassembling it into a pair of half portions by
removing the corresponding bolts 3. Then, bolts 4 may be removed
from connecting elements 46, 47 by manually rotating the bolts.
Bolts 4 are brought into threaded engagement with connecting
elements 48, 49 of the assembly 43, and the rod elements 50, 51 for
the assembly 44 in FIG. 21 are fixed in position. Subsequent
assembling work may be continued in a similar manner in order to
construct the assembly 44. During such assembling and disassembling
work, no excessively laborious force is required; and no
unreasonable force will be exerted on the rod elements 45, 50, 51
or any other rod element. Hence, all work involved may be very
efficiently performed.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing another form of an assembly
according to the invention. In this embodiment, plate elements 53
are used. As shown in FIG. 23, each plate element 53 has four
depending support pieces 54, each of which engage a respective
inner side periphery of a rod element 55 of the assembly, as shown
in FIG. 24.
Rod elements 45, 50, 51, 55 have a configuration similar to that of
aforesaid rod element 1, and connecting elements 46, 47, 48, 49
have a configuration similar to that of the connecting element
2.
In the earlier mentioned embodiment, the axis of the internal
threads 8 formed in each connecting body 2 are either parallel or
perpendicular to one another, but alternatively they may have other
angles such as 35.degree. and 45.degree. to each other. It is also
possible that connecting elements 2 having different angles between
the axes of the internal threads can be differentiated from one
another by their color. Such differentiation may enable younger
children to easily construct an assembly in accordance with the
invention. Further, differentiating connecting elements 2 in color
from bolts 3 add to the beauty of the assembly kit. Differentiating
each pair of half portions 1a constituting a rod element 1 in color
from one to the other will also add to the beauty of the kit.
FIG. 25 is an exploded view in perspective showing another
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 26 is a plan view of a connecting
element 61. FIG. 27 is a plan view of a bolt 64. FIG. 28 is a
longitudinal sectional view of the bolt 64 shown in FIG. 27. FIG.
29 is a plan view of a bolt 65. FIG. 30 is a longitudinal sectional
view showing the bolt 65 shown in FIG. 29. This embodiment is
similar to the earlier described embodiment, with comparable
portions given identical reference numerals. In this embodiment,
the connecting element 61 has a configuration more convenient for
molding purposes than the connecting element 2 in the earlier
mentioned embodiment. A protrusion 62 is formed on the top of the
wall 25 of a half portion 81a, the protrusion extending
perpendicularly to the axis of the half portion 81a and being
generally of a rectangular parallelepiped configuration, its both
ends in the longitudinal direction being chamfered. The top of the
wall 26 has a recess 63 formed therein correspondingly to the
protrusion 62. The protrusion 62 and the recess 63 are larger in
size than the protrusion 31 and the recess 28 in the earlier
embodiment. This ensures more accurate positioning and fitting in
assembling a pair of half portions 81a.
Bolts 64, 65 have tool fitting holes 66, 67 respectively formed
therein which extend therethrough in the axial direction thereof.
The radial cross section of each of the fitting holes 66, 67 is
square. A bolt turning device 70 shown in FIGS. 31 to 33 has a
fitting portion 71 formed in a square rod shape, which fits in the
fitting holes 66, 67. By holding and turning a handle portion 72
extending from the fitting portion 71, it is possible to tighten or
loosen the bolts 64, 65 easily. Heads 64a, 65a of the bolts 64, 65
have depressions 64b, 65b formed therein as in the case of the bolt
3 in the earlier mentioned embodiment, so that the bolts 64, 65 may
be readily turned by using a coin. Thus, working efficiency may be
improved by suitably using the bolt turning device. The fitting
holes 66, 67 extend through the entire axial length of the bolts
64, 65 from the heads 64a, 65a to the front ends 64e, 65e of shanks
64d, 65d having external threads 64c, 65c formed thereon, and this
prevents the possibility of windpipe choking in the event of
accidental swallowing by an infant and thus assures improved
safety.
FIG. 34 is a bottom view of a plate element 75. FIG. 35 is a plan
view showing the plate element 75 as it appears when fixed to a rod
member 81. FIG. 36 is a section taken along the line A--A in FIG.
35. Two diagonally extending and intersecting reinforcement ribs
77, 78 are formed on the back of a sheet portion 76 of the plate
element 75. A peripheral edge portion 80 having support pieces 79
formed thereon is provided around outer periphery of the sheet
portion 76. The plate element 75 formed in this way is more durable
than the plate element 53 in the earlier embodiment, because it is
reinforced, and is easy to remove. Support pieces 79 are formed in
pairs on each side of the plate element 75, and therefore they are
not prone to slippage in the event of an external force being
exerted in a direction perpendicular to the thicknesswise direction
of the plate member 75 (in the direction parallel to the sheet
surface of FIG. 34).
FIG. 37 is a bottom view of another form of a plate element 85
corresponding to FIG. 34 in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention and FIG. 38 is a section showing the plate element 85
when fixed to a rod member 86. Support pieces 87 are fixed to the
rod element 86 in the condition shown in FIG. 38 by contacting the
outer surface of the rod element 86. Rib plates 88, 89 extend
diagonally to each other and are mounted on the sheet portion
85.
The assembly kit in accordance with the invention may be formed of
synthetic resins.
Not only may the assembly kit according to the invention be used as
a toy, but also it may be used in connection with building shelves
or the like.
According to the invention, as above described, it is possible to
accomplish a large variety of assembly configurations by using
parts of identical construction, thereby minimizing the number of
different parts involved. Further, according to the invention, not
much labor is required in assembling and disassembling stops using
the assembly kit of the invention, which naturally means improved
working efficiency. Thus, the assembly kit according to the
invention can be used very widely in common households.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description and all changes which come within the meaning and the
range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
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